Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2009)

900 consumer complaints on file.

#10447392February 10, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS TURBO. THE CONTACT STATED HIS REAR BRAKE PADS WERE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT RAPIDLY. THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PAD NEVER MADE ANY NOISE ALERTING THE CONTACT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED THE MECHANIC SHOWED HIM HOW THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WERE WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446177February 1, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION SWITCH. COULD NOT TURN OFF ENGINE. COULD TAKE KEY OUT IN ANY GEAR BUT WOULDN'T TURN OFF ENGINE. HAD TO PULL FUSE OUT TO GET IT OFF. FOR 79,732 MILES I THINK THIS IS A HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443913January 16, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THEREFORE THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF. THERE IS A SPECIAL BULLETIN #10256 ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM INCLUDING ONLY THE 2009 COBALT HOWEVER AS THERE IS NOT AN OPEN RECALL THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR MY CAR BECAUSE MY CAR HAS A BRANDED TITLE AND THEY WILL ONLY REPAIR 'OPEN RECALL' ITEMS. THIS ISSUE IS NOT LISTED IN THE GLOBAL DATABASE WHEN MY VIN IS SEARCHED BUT IT NEEDS TO BE LISTED UNDER MY VIN AND THERE NEEDS TO BE AN OPEN RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS CERTAINLY A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE CAR OFF IS TO GET UNDER THE HOOD AND REMOVE THE FUEL RELAY FUSE. IN CASE OF A FIRE THIS WOULD BE A CATASTROPHIC SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442880January 9, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN BRAKING SOFTLY, REAR BRAKES MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND I'VE STARTED TO NOTICE SLIGHTLY UNEVEN WEAR ON ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE PADS. ALSO OCCASIONALLY WHILE MOVING IN REVERSE WITH FOOT BRAKES APPLIED I CAN HEAR A VERY VERY LOUD SOUND SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AND WAY LOUDER THEN THE SOUND WHEN MOVING FORWARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441226December 26, 2011
POWER TRAIN
I PARKED THE CAR FOR THE NIGHT WITH NO INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEMS AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE NEXT DAY, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. TRIED MOVED THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT WOULD NOT TURN TO START. TALKED WITH A LOCKSMITH AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T THE IGNITION BUT THE POWER TRAIN COLUMN SHIFT SINCE NEITHER OF THE KEYS WORKED. I SPOKE WITH THE CHEVROLET CONSUMER HOT LINE (1-800-630-2438) AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON MY VIN. I ASSURED THEM THAT I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH 85,546 MILES THAT I CAN'T STARTED WITH THE FIRST 11 NUMBERS OF THE VIN RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440433December 19, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION AND TRIED TO TURN OFF MY CAR, HOWEVER, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF. LUCKILY, I DRIVE A 5 SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO KILL THE ENGINE BY POPPING OUT THE CLUTCH OTHERWISE I WOULD BE FORCED TO LET THE ENGINE RUN UNTIL IT RAN OUT OF GAS. WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THE KEY WAS STILL STUCK IN THE CAR AND ALL THAT WAS NEEDED TO RE-START THE CAR WAS A GIGGLE OF THE KEY. THIS IS REALLY UNSAFE. WITH MY KEY STUCK IN MY CAR, I WAS UNABLE TO LOCK THE CAR DOOR; OTHERWISE I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REENTER THE CAR. THIS MEANT THAT A CHILD COULD HAVE ENTERED MY CAR AND WITH THE KEY ALREADY IN THE CAR (SINCE IT WAS STUCK) THEY COULD HAVE DRIVEN IT AND CAUSED SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH TO THEMSELVES OR TO ANOTHER. IF MY CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THEN THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO SHUT IT OFF EXCEPT FOR RUNNING IT OUT OF GAS. THIS COULD POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK IN SEVERAL SITUATIONS SUCH AS A CAR BEING TRAPPED IN A GARAGE WITH LITTLE VENTILATION OR IF IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING LEAKING GASOLINE. GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE MATTER (DOCUMENT ID: 2552146 ; #10256: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION - IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER - REPLACE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER - (DEC. 14, 2010). THIS BULLETIN IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT HTTP://5HIZN1T.VACAU.COM/10256.HTM#SS2-2552146. IT UPSETS ME THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT FAILS TO TAKE ANY MEANINGFUL ACTION. THEIR "SERVICE BULLETIN" REMEDY IS ILLUSORY AT BEST. WHEN I TOOK A COPY OF THIS BULLETIN TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEY DID NOT HONOR IT. THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT ONE OF THE 2009 COBALTS THAT WERE INCLUDED. HOW NOT MY CAR DID THE SAME THING AS THEY WARNED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS PHYSICALLY HARMED BY GM'S NEGLIGENCE IN THIS OCCURRENCE; HOWEVER IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT IF THIS PROBLEM GOES UNRESOLVED THAT SOMEONE WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439176December 9, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKES ARE DRAGGING ON THE ROTOR AND GRINDING AT STOPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438143December 2, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WITHIN THE FIRST 15000 MILES OF MY CAR THE REAR BRAKES FAILED. IT WAS METAL ON METAL. READING THE FORUMS ON COBALTS SS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAD REAR BRAKE FAILURE WITHIN 15000 MILES. I DO NOT RACE THE CAR, AND MOST OF MY MILES ARE HIGHWAY. I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438001December 1, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DURING JULY I HAD TO HAVE MY 2009 CHEVY COBALT TOWED INTO A REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE I COULDN'T TURN MY KEY IN THE IGNITION. I HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED WHICH COST ME OVER $200. NOW IN NOVEMBER 2011, 4 MONTHS LATER, MY CAR IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL YET ON THIS AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433971November 2, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AT 20,300 MILES, THE INNER REAR BRAKE PADS HAD WORN COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE METAL AND SCORED THE ROTORS TO THE POINT THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP MAINTAINS THIS IS NORMAL WEAR. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE FINE AND THE OUTER REAR PADS WHILE WORN, WERE STILL WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LIMITS. AFTER SEEING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE (144 OUT OF 168 TOTAL COMPLAINTS, OR 86%) NEARLY IDENTICAL TO MINE, THIS IS CLEARLY A GLARING SAFETY ISSUE - 144 COMPLAINTS FOR A LOW-VOLUME 2-YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE NHTSA HAS NOT INITIATED AN INVESTIGATION ALREADY. PERHAPS THEY ARE WAITING FOR FATALITIES CAUSED BY THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT BEFORE TAKING ACTION. UPDATED IVOQ 12/01/11. UPDATED IVOQ 01/05/12 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432290October 21, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY IS STUCK IN THE LOCK CYLINDER. CAN NOT TURN OFF CAR. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. ELECTRO-MECHANICAL RELEASE MECHANISM INTERLOCKED WITH GEAR SHIFTER APPEARS TO BE WORKING CORRECTLY (INSIDE BOTTOM OF STEERING COLUMN). THE KEY IS PHYSICALLY STUCK IN THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, SO THE CAR CAN NOT BE TURNED OFF. QUICK SEARCH ON THE WEB REVEALS DOZENS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON COBALT MODELS AT LEAST BACK TO 2005. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430565October 17, 2011
TIRES
I HAVE HAD 3 INCIDENTS THAT I BELIEVE ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FUZION TOURING TIRES ON MY 2009 CHEVY COBALT. THE FIRST WAS A REAR END COLLISION IN EARLY JULY, APPROXIMATELY 5 DAYS AFTER I HAD THE TIRES INSTALLED ON MY CAR. WHEN I NEEDED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE CAR SKIDDED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, THAT HAD MANAGED TO STOP BEFORE HITTING A CAR THAT HAD SWERVED IN FRONT OF HIM. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON OCT 14, 2011. I WAS GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION DURING A RAINSTORM. THE INTERSECTION HAS A SLIGHT LEFT BEND TO IT. I WAS TRAVELING AT 35-40 MPH WHEN A VAN TRIED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ME. HE WAS WAY TOO CLOSE AND I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES HARD. THE FRONT WHEELS IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP AND MY CAR ROTATED 90 DEGREES COUNTERCLOCKWISE WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN AT ALL. FORTUNATELY, THE DRIVER OF THE VAN REALIZED THAT HE HAD SCREWED UP AND GOT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION RAPIDLY AND A COLLISION WAS AVOIDED. THEN LAST NIGHT, OCT. 16TH, AGAIN IN THE RAIN, I TRIED TO STOP AT A YELLOW LIGHT ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL GRADE FROM ABOUT 45 MPH. AGAIN THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE CAR SKIDDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT ABOUT 40 MPH. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE 1973 AND HAVE LOGGED OVER A MILLION MILES. THESE FUZION TOURING TIRES ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS TIRES I HAVE EVER DRIVEN ON, ESPECIALLY ON WET PAVEMENT. I HAVE HAD OTHER TIRES ON MY COBALT AND NEVER HAD ANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS. I AM REPLACING THEM TOMORROW BECAUSE MY LIFE IS WORTH MORE TO ME THAN THE $400 THAT A SET OF TIRES COSTS. DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITH THOSE TIRES IS LIKE DRIVING ON ICE WITH NORMAL TIRES. THESE TIRES ARE POTENTIALLY DEADLY AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY AND THEN SHREDDED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT THERE ARE NO TRACTION, TREADWEAR, OR TEMPERATURE RATINGS ON THESE TIRES. THE SIZE IS195/60-15, 88H. I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT THESE ARE FUZION TOURING TIRES, NOT FUZION HRI. I HAD A SET OF FUZION HRI'S AND THEY WERE FINE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428453October 4, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A MANUAL COBALT SS 2009 AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING. I HAVE TO HAVE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PARK MY CAR. I BEEN HAVING TO REST MY CAR IN A GEAR SO IT WILL NOT GO ANYWHERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427712September 28, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF AND THE KEYS WOULD NOT REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ADDRESSING THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427143September 26, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I BOUGHT A USED 2009 COBALT SS. THE CAR HAD 3200 MILES ON IT. AFTER BRING THE CAR HOME I FOUND SOME PITTING IN THE REAR ROTORS. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR TO 3800 MILES IT HAD GOTTEN BEYOND THE POINT WHERE THE ROTORS COULD BE TURNED. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL EVERYTHING IS FINE. NOT BEING BORN YESTERDAY I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE CASE. AFTER FIGHTING WITH THE DEALER FOR OVER AN HOUR I LEFT MAD AND WITH NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE ROTORS WITH DRILLED AND SLOTTED ROTORS, AND CERAMIC PADS BUT NOW IT SEEM AS IF THE REAR CALIPERS ARE NOT RELEASING ALL THE WAY WHICH IS CAUSING THE CAR TO MAKE RATHER LOUD NOISES WHILE DRIVE. ONCE AGAIN NO HELP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY CLAIM EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS I KNOW OF AT LEAST A DOZEN PEOPLE IN MY AREA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEAR THAT IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED QUICKLY SOME ONE MAY GET HURT, OR WORSE YET KILLED TO PARTS FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427068September 25, 2011
WHEELS, STEERING, SUSPENSION
VEHICLE IS MAKING WEIRD FRONT END NOISES, KNOCKING, RATTLES, SHAKES IN THE STEERING COLUMN, VIBRATIONS WHEN DRIVING ON THE DRIVER SIDE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL AND IN THE FLOOR, TIRES ARE MAKING A NOISE WHEN DRIVING LIKE SOMETHING IS HANGING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426748September 22, 2011
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND HE WAS UNABLE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 10/26/11. *JB.. UPDATED 10/27/11 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST WENT OUT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR. UPDATED 12/16/11. *JB.... UPDATED 01/17/12 *BF UPDATED 02/01/12. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425752September 16, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE FRONT INTERCOOLER ON THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED BELOW THE GROUND EFFECTS OF THE FRONT BUMPER. THE INTERCOOLER HAS CRACKED 3 TO 4 TIMES AND IS NOT REPAIRABLE. THIS IS A FLAW ON ALL 2008-2009 CHEVY COBALT SS MODELS. THE RESULT WAS A BROKE DOWN VEHICLE. THE AIR SYSTEM ON THE CAR FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP NEGLECTED TO COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425755September 16, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE REAR BRAKES FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS DID NOT HAVE LUBRICATION ON THE SLIDING PINS WHICH RESULTED IN THE ROTORS FAILING AND THE BRAKE PADS BEING DESTROYED. MY REAR BREAKS NO LONGER WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE THIS IS A DEFECT ON ALL 2008-2009 CHEVY COBALT SS MODELS. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424756September 12, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WOULD FAIL TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVE FROM IGNITION SWITCH WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE KEY BEING STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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